Herne Hill Harriers emerged from the mens and womens Surrey League with enhanced team prospects after some solid engine room running from their unsung stars last Saturday.

Dave Taylor treated the field at Wimbledon to the rare sight of total control as he stormed to victory round the five-miles course in 26 mins six secs.

The back-up he received from the other red and black hoops was remarkable, with six of the team finishing within 50 seconds of the leader.

Ian Munt was the second Harrier home, finishing 12th in 27:53, and he was followed in a field of more than 200 runners by Keith Newton (18th), Dave Robinson (22nd), Alan Wray (33rd), Dave Peters (35th), Tony Harran (36th), Paul Phillips (42nd) and Rob Jacobs (51st).

The Herne Hill contingent of 30 runners included 17 in the first 100 of this nine team, 10-men to score, event.

The men finished a close third to encourage the team to strive for an improved position in the final two fixtures in December and February.

The women, at Tilford in their Surrey League race, were led home again by club pres-ident Clare Pauzers, who covered the course in 19 mins 43 secs to win by more than 15 seconds.

Pauzers led the five-to-score squad to a very close second place, losing by only six points to the league leaders.

She was backed up by Polly Rogers-Dixon (3rd), Ruth Allcock (17th), Lesley Leggett (18th) and Nicky McGarry.

In the U15 race, Stacey Holverson was third and has now been awarded the winning position she lost when she was sent off course in the previous race.

This weekend sees the South of England Veterans Cham-pionshipships at Parliament Hill Fields, in which Harriers mens team, consisting of national title-holder Micky Boyle, Tony Harran, Rob Jacobs and Jim Zapleare, is expected to be in the medals.